Trump Invites Palestinian President to White House

Looking to get the ball rolling on the Middle East peace process, President Trump has invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the White House.

The invitation comes after the two leaders spoke by phone on Friday.

“President Trump has extended an official invitation to President Abbas to visit the White House soon to discuss ways to resume the political process, stressing his commitment to a peace process that will lead to a real peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah.

Palestinians are concerned at the more favorable approach shown by Washington towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Trump came to power.

Netanyahu and Trump have spoken on the phone at least twice since the Jan. 20 inauguration and Netanyahu visited Washington last month.

Palestinian officials indicated Abbas would emphasise his concern about Israeli settlement-building on occupied land and the need for a two-state solution to the conflict.

‘President Abbas stressed the commitment to peace as a strategic choice to establish a Palestinian State alongside the state of Israel,’ Abu Rdainah said, according to the official Palestinian WAFA news agency.

Trump has been ambivalent when it comes a two-state solution.

“I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like … I can live with either one,” he said at a news conference during Netanyahu’s visit in February.